Deadly Lies by Ann Girdharry (book recommendations .TXT) 📗

gone not yours! When the hell is he going to call?’

It was the million-dollar question.

‘Why don’t you and I go to the kitchen,’ Ruby suggested.

Tom turned to Philip Hardman. ‘And I think it might be best if you leave.’

‘Our priority is the next call,’ Ruby said to Alice. ‘Do you feel prepared for it?’

‘I know what DCI Grant wants me to say. Don’t worry I’m not cracking up.’

Ruby thought Alice was changing. She was stronger than she had been before – answering Jack back and her mother.

‘You’re very kind and so is Tom. It’s horrible you hearing Jack’s dirty secrets about Natalie and his shitty accusations about Uncle Phil. I knew Jack wasn’t an ideal husband and I turned a blind eye. I thought it was temporary and he’d get back on track and he never did.’

Ruby was making some food. She cracked eggs and they sizzled in the pan. ‘The affair with Natalie wasn’t a complete surprise then?’ she asked carefully.

‘A part of me suspected and I ignored the warning signs. At least with the au pairs, when I got suspicious I could get rid of them.’

Ruby buttered the toast and kept a diplomatic silence.

‘Last night I finally realised – I loved Jack far more than he ever loved me. It’s a horrible thought only I couldn’t help wondering if Jack married me to get in with Dad.’

‘You’re both under an incredible amount of stress. It doesn’t mean your marriage won’t survive,’ Ruby said.

‘Yes it does. My babies are all that matters and I don’t care about Jack. I feel a fool to have made so many allowances.’

Jack walked in, bringing the smell of body odour with him.

‘Alice, we need to talk,’ Jack said.

‘No, Ruby, please don’t leave. Tell my husband I don’t want to talk to him now or ever. The only communication we will have is through my lawyer when I file for divorce. Tell him he disgusts me. I want him out of my sight.’

Ruby gave Jack an apologetic look. ‘Perhaps it’s best if discussions between you and your wife are left until later.’

‘There aren’t going to be any discussions,’ Alice said. ‘It’s over.’

‘Please, Alice, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen.’

‘Like you didn’t mean for it to happen with Sylvie and the other girls? You are such a damn liar.’ Alice picked up a plate full of scrambled eggs and hurled it at the wall.

At the sound of breaking crockery, Tom rushed in.

Alice continued. ‘You make me sick. Our children are missing and all you’re interested in is getting it off with my best friend. I hate your guts.’

Tom stood between them. ‘Ma’am, please, this won’t help.’

Alice’s phone suddenly rang and everyone froze. Eggs slithered down the wall.

‘It’s an unknown number,’ the technician shouted from the other room. ‘Likely this is it.’

Ruby turned off the cooking gas and she and Tom moved close to Alice.

‘It’s all right,’ Ruby said. ‘Remember what you need to say. Take a breath and answer the call.’

Tom held out a piece of card. On it were the words asking for a proof of life video.

Alice’s green eyes were large and scared and fixed on Ruby. Ruby nodded. ‘You can do it.’

‘Answer the call and please say only what we have agreed,’ Tom said. ‘If it’s Emily, remember you are not speaking to Emily you’re speaking to the abductor. He is controlling what she can say.’

She was shaking so hard, wisps of hair around her face were trembling. Slowly she lifted the phone and pressed the speaker button. Ruby could see Alice’s lips quivering.

‘Hello this is Alice.’

‘Mummy, it’s Emily. Here are the instructions – you will bring half a million pounds in unmarked notes. You’ll receive the drop-off co-ordinates beforehand. You must come alone.’

‘I will only give you the money in exchange for my children. Please do not harm them. I want proof of life,’ Alice read from the card.

There was a long pause during which Tom took Alice’s arm to support her.

‘You’ll get it. Don’t be late,’ Emily said, and the line went dead.

30

When Maria followed him into the children’s room, it was obvious Emily had deteriorated. He didn’t notice, or if he did, he ignored it. He had been back on a high ever since the phone call to Emily’s mother.

Maria wondered if he had taken a snort that morning. It was pretty likely because he wasn’t worried they needed to send a video, when on a video it would be difficult to hide the state Emily was in.

‘This is going just like I want it to,’ he said.

Maria wiped her hand over Emily’s forehead. The child was sweating and yet she was cold and the two together were a bad sign. A purple line snaked from the child’s elbow to her armpit. Maria almost fainted.

‘If they want proof of life they can have it,’ he said. ‘Sort that kid out and get her ready for the recording.’

Maria dabbed Emily’s forehead with a damp towel and brushed the child’s hair. Emily was floppy, the same as Maria’s little brother had been when he had blood poisoning. Poor Billy, she remembered the doctors saying if it had been left longer it might have been too late.

He was flicking the button on and off, on and off, for the recording. ‘Stop fussing and get on with it. I don’t like waiting.’

Emily had to be propped against the bed.

He’d bought a copy of that day’s newspaper and Lisa was instructed to hold it up. This time Lisa would say a short message as well as her sister. Since she couldn’t read very well Lisa had to learn her part by heart.

He tapped his foot, impatient to get it over with, but the first time they tried it, when they watched the playback, it was obvious Emily was slurring her words.

‘Is she doing it on purpose?’ he said.

‘She’s going downhill fast. I think she needs a doctor.’

‘What are you now, a nurse? There’s no fucking way